My Journal Archive

The Journal as of 12/26/97 . . .

Christmas has now come and gone. Started out on the 'eve
with a trip to see GMa Schrempp in Concord. That night she was a lively
octogenarian. At our somewhat now traditional dinner at the Peppermill she
was interested in the conversation around her and even cracked a joke or
two. When told that the family carrying her maiden name is listed as the
14th richest in the world she said, "maybe we should have stayed in
touch."

Dinner was at my place Christmas day, and what a bash we
had! Mom and Dad from Pacifica, Bob and Kate from SLO, Mike and ... from
Seattle, Marian, Dave, Ken from Hayward, Rich, Jackie, Brian from Castro
Valley. Peg and Gene were in Halifax, and Debbie, Chris and Lauren where
with his family. Bob and Carolyn were free this holiday and came by for
food and frivolities.

We ate a 17lb spiral ham, 8lbs of mashed, assorted vegetables
and munchies. Riven was a big hit, as was the Gooboos construction kit I
got in my stocking. Mike and ... told tales of yet another house under contract;
perhaps they'll have a housewarming this summer.

I can highly recommend Thunder Calling at the SJ Rep. It's
a wonderful musical story told to live blues. A great evening out. "Hello"
to Clydene, Joel, and Cody (who now works for the Rep).

Journal as of 12/22/97 . . .

Another week gone by. Went to The Stanford Theater for a
showing of High Sierra. Bogart gets out of jail, stays bad to the bone,
proposes to a young farm girl he's only known two weeks. Some great lines
that today are just not politically correct.

Went by Community Impact on Thursday to help wrap presents
for disadvantaged kids in San Jose. We wrapped about two hundred of them
before the night was done.

Vance is back from Tibet. He has some super pictures from
Lhasa to Everest base camp. Keep watching here for his travel logs. He's
traveling a lot these days. Tibet, Taiwan, Los Gatos, London, Los Gatos,
New York, Los Gatos. Seven days home in the last seven weeks! I could never
do that much work travel. I've got to spend some time in my own home to
ground myself.

Plenty of time to do that now. I'm taking the next two weeks
off. Spent today puttering around and getting all those things done that
have to be done. Miata washed and oiled. Shoes from Rockport. Lunch with
Vicky. Pilgrimage to Fry's.

Journal as of 12/15/97 . . .

Last weekend was a stellar time, courtesy of HP SSG. Big
bash at the SJ Fairmont. Almost 2000 people turned out, including several
that didn't belong to us. It would be too easy to show up in a suit at the
Fairmont and just walk into big parties. Hmmm, might do that this weekend.

We had roast beast to feed an army. They were carving these
large hind quarters with bones the size of my wrist sticking out of the
top. When they loaded a used one onto a white clothed cart and wheeled it
away all I could think was, "Get him to OR quick, I'm not sure he's
going to make it!"

This week I finally figured out the DSS system. Turns our
I get a bunch of stations I don't want for $30 a month. To get anything
worth anything is yet another $30 a month. Seems like a cable company all
over again. I was a bit put off that I couldn't even get a listing of what
programs are on unless I shell out another $5 a month for their version
of TV Guide. Of course their version is the size of the San Jose phone book
and comes out new once a month.

Hello to the Los Molinas High School alumni! Dad was class
of '51.

Journal as of 12/1/97 . . .

Wow, a great Thanksgiving holiday is over. Of course Pacifica
with the folks was a good time, then up to
Ray's Roadhouse for the weekend. Ray
had a super stew on the stove simmering for 8 hours. We were all in hand
by 6PM and then it was over to Charlie's for a little salsa party. Never
could figure out how that dance goes, but Paula and Pauli were dressed to
the nines, as was David and Lothar.

Saturday we hosted a brunch that brought the whole mountain
over. Sourdough coffee cake, southern polenta (grits and cheese), and various
goodies kept everyone amused until 1PM. Then the rain came. Man, five hours
of down pour locked us all inside. Luckily the
Jï¿½tel worked wonders and kept
us all warm.

Saturday night was yet another party, this time Indian food
at David's. I needed some sanity time and stayed home with the Balvinie
and water. Reports tell of beautiful Hindu decorations, saris from Berkeley,
and delectable treats. Curry, curry, curry. Ginger tea that would blow your
head off. Henna paste to decorate hands and feet. How will that look at
work?

David hosted us on Sunday to watch the 49ers slaughtered
via satellite dish. We'll say no more about that.
Check out the photos.

Journal as of 11/22/97 . . .

I just finished my third trip to the top of Everest. Read
the book; listened to the book on tape; watched the television special.
Whew. What an incredible first person tale. If you haven't read Into Thin
Air, it is well worth it. It's not hard to understand how they made mistakes
at 25,000 feet. My max altitude is 18,000 at Kilimanjaro and we we not thinking
any too clear there.

Big on theater lately. Music Man at AMT was ok. Nixon, Nixon
at SJ Rep is an interpretation of the meeting between Kissinger and Nixon
the night before Nixon resigned. Sounds dull, but was hilarious. Falling
out of my seat funny. Stomp on tour in SJ was good, but I wouldn't see it
twice.

Vance is supposed to be out of Tibet by now and in Taiwan
for a while, but I haven't gotten any email yet.

Gloria at work found my home page and has been boning up
on my trip reports. "Hello Gloria." I'm waiting to publish some
of her writing on the web.

Note that the
Retirement planning page
now has a link to a java version supplied by SmartMoney magazine. It's very
fun to play with. One interesting observation: if you're within 5 years
of retirement, you can stop saving and start spending. Check it out.

Journal as of 11/10/97 . . .

Last weekend I got out to *the* Grand National. Grand National
what? you may ask. Turns out that it's a rodeo! Bucking broncs, jumping,
barrel racing. All done at that speedy pace the South is so known for. Outside
were a few animal rights activists with signs like "Horses don't buy
rodeo tickets." Duh. Halfway through the rodeo out comes an old gray
horse known as a bucket horse. "Yes, ladies and gentlemen, if it weren't
for rodeos these old bucket horses would long ago have been destroyed or
turned into dog food." Yadda, yadda, yadda. The bottom line is that
buying a ticket to the rodeo is the ultimate vote in favor of animal rights.
Boy, I feel better already.

Overall it was a really good time. Next year we'll have
to get seats close enough to have mud thrown on us. I'll close with this,
found on the web...

David Betterman's top 10 ways to improve rodeos:

10. Superglue bronco riders into the saddle09. Lions
roaming the stadium08. Glade air fresheners, everywhere07. Cheerleaders
06. Put Rush Limbaugh inside one of the barrels05. Nude sheep herding
04. Losers do hand to hand combat for second place03. Rodeo Queen is
a man in drag02. Two words: Joey Buttafuccoand the number one way
to improve rodeos . . .#1. Put more peppers on the nachos!

Journal as of 10/28/97 . . .

Well, I got Buffetted again last week. Bob got tickets and
Carolyn, Paul and I joined him for a night of parrot head music at Shoreline.
This year the crowd seemed larger than ever before. We were on the grass
an hour ahead of time and still had to sit high and way off to one side.
We could barely see the TVs! Best song that night was his ever popular "Why
don't we get lunch in school?" (Ho ho ho)

Cathy L. had a birthday bash at the Menlo Park ceramic paint
shop. She bought a set of undecorated dishes and invited a load of friends
to come up and paint them for her. I hope she was ready for the eclectic
group of graphics that are going to be her tableware from now on. Some were
beautiful works of art, others were... I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it; now
I'm hooked. It's a great release for pent-up artistic energy. Watch this
site for pictures.

Vance is heading off to Tibet for a week or so on his way
to his Hong Kong office. He hasn't been on the road for quite some time
and this will be a welcome vacation.

Also heard from Bob and Michelle via email. They are now
in Arusha, going on safari. They asked about the house and left the email
address of one their safari guide. It's hard to believe that they sent an
email yesterday from Africa, I reply tonight, and by tomorrow morning I'll
probably have a reply. All for no cost over my monthly ISP. Incredible.

HOT TIP: if you haven't read "Into Thin Air" then
go get it tonight.

Journal as of 10/20/97 . . .

Just back from another good weekend at
the Roadhouse. We got up late Friday
night, just in time to down a half bottle of cognac... urp ... and light
the new stove. It's a beaut! We got most of the insulation in so this winter
it will be warm inside. The contractor is working on the interior ceiling
and it is going to look great when he's finished. With all this wall work
covering the studs this Roadhouse is looking like a living space. My god,
there's even the stub out for a toilet!

We heard from the regulars that two mountain lions have
been spotted prowling the neighboring property. This makes hanging it all
out in the woods a lot less interesting than it used to be. Not that it
was ever all that interesting.

I'm spending about half my time up in Palo Alto this month, house sitting
while Bob and Michelle trip around the world. I've eaten at Cafe Brioche
a couple of times and it is wonderful. The sea bass was just delicious.

The new Miata is also working well....

As of 10/10/97 . . .

Had a super weekend! Vance, Jon, Steve, and I went fishing
at Pine Mountain Lake. First evening
on the lake I pull in a 2.5 pound bass. The sun went down behind the mountains
and we kept pulling in the bass. Jon has taken a lot of grief in the past
because he's never caught a fish in our presence. This despite the fact
that Jon has tackle box bigger than Fort Knox. I mean large; four tiers,
extra large bottom. Big enough to keep four reels and still have room for
six spools of line.Tonight he's fishing spider wire and a dark blue Power
Bait worm with a tail. They are hot. Jon and Steve weren't due until later
so we kept these big bad boys in the live well and eventually threw them
into the bathtub until the eyes popped out of Vance and Steve.

The rest of the weekend was not as productive for me, although
even my meager catch made Vance seem barren. Jon kept yanking 'em in. Big
and small he had hooks in the lip, head, even a gill or two. Keep watching "what's
new" to the left for pictures.

As of 9/28/97 . . .

Spent the week fooling around with June. We got out to see
Air Force One; good movie. Saturday night we were at Mac's in Los Altos
for dinner mystery theater. It was a well written play and the food was
good. I had the sirloin, June had chicken. This was the treat of Bob and
Michelle before they go off for three months around the world. They'll hit
Virginia, India, Southeast Asia (wherever is safe when they get there),
and then come home. In the mean time I'll be house sitting for them in old
Palo Alto. I'll be just two blocks off the downtown!

This morning we made a run in the new black Miata to Moonshadow
ranch restaurant outside of Felton. Good breakfast food in an eclectic atmosphere
among the redwoods. Very serene. Then we sat at Capitola with my Ricochet,
watching the surf and surfing the net.

Anyone want to buy a '91 red Miata in good shape?

As of 9/21/97 . . .

June is back! She arrived in town on Friday and we were off to the mountain
winery for The Manhattan Transfer. What a great show. They cruised through
a lot of their old songs. This is their 25th anniversary tour and it caused
us to reflect on just how old they (we) are.

Then off to LA for Rick and Sheila's
surprise 40th birthdays. Rick was
in on the surprise but didn't know we were all coming down from SJ. Turns
out the only way he could get Sheila to come was to blow the surprise and
tell her, "You have to go, it's a surprise party for you!" Then
they walk in the door, Sheila fakes surprise and Rick is shocked to see
us all there. It worked out well. Thanks to Angela for putting this all
together. Viv, Ed, Gary, and Jean were there. Haven't seen them in ten years.
Kimi showed up too with a brand new black Cabriolet. Looking sharp Kimi.

As of 9/8/97 . . .

Well, last week we went to the downtown Campbell sports bar for the game.
We'd spotted this place while dining at Mio Vicino (excellent food). It's
in the old theater that housed the Gas Lighter theatre. We saw a big screen
TV where the movies used to be shown. Sounded like a great idea until I
showed up. Monday night is rehearsal for the still active melodrama, so
the the only open room was the lobby bar. Here we sat with three sad locals
sipping beer and watching the poor reception. The bartenders were really
nice, but this isn't the place to go.

Last night was Los Lobos and ZZ Top. Lobos was great, so was ZZ Top.
Although THEY WERE A BIT LOUD. I HAD TO PUT IN EAR PLUGS ON THE SECOND ZZ
SONG OF THE NIGHT. THE MUSIC WAS GOOD AND I COULD FEEL MY GUT VIBRATING
WITH EVERY BASE CHORD. I SLIPPED OUT ONE PLUG DURING "CHEAP SUNGLASSES"
TO SEE WHAT IT WAS REALLY LIKE AND MY EARS BLED BEFORE I COULD GET IT BACK
IN. I FELT LIKE THOSE GUYS IN THE MIR TRYING TO GET THE HATCH ON WHILE THEY
LISTENED TO THEIR AIR PSSST OUT THE PUNCTURE IN THE LAB MODULE: NO TIME
TO WASTE. I HOPE MY HEARING COMES BACK BY NEXT WEEK'S Manhattan Transfer
at the Mountain Winery.

As of 8/31/97 . . .

June is on her way to Singapore today; back in town 9/20.

I've refined the "can you retire?" spreadsheet.
Download it and have some
fun. Let me know if you find any errors in the calculations.

Hot dog, new baby in the family... Nancy and Greg just brought in Emily
Kathleen Haldeman August 20, 1997. 7+ lbs!

Speaking of which, Reynold and Lori report that the baby, Campbell, is
doing just peachy. They call him The Campster... what does that rhyme with???

Overheard at the traveling Smithsonian Exhibit in SJ:Mom: That's
Albert Einstein, he was a geniusSon: Is he the father of Frank enstein?
This is no lie.

As of 8/27/97 . . .

Hot dog, new baby in the family... Nancy and Greg just brought in Emily
Kathleen Haldeman Augest 20.1997. 7+ lbs!

Just back from Vegas. It was fun, but we didn't win a million dollars.
Of course we weren't gambling so that made it tough to win, but also tough
to lose. We stayed at Bally's, which is nice and has few kids at the pool.
It's also at one end of the new monorail so it's easy to get to the MGM
side of town. We visited there and Treasure Island, Ceasers, and the new
New York, New York. That hotel looks like the NY skyline on the outside
and inside is lit up like your on the street in NY, graffitti and all. We
saw a couple of shows: Starlight Express was nice, but just a show. MadHatten
was interesting but got old before it was over. George Carlin was filthy
but funny. We looked at other hotels with an eye to staying somewhere else
next time and decided that Bally's is just the right mix of location and
adult behavior (more or less).